1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,970 [treehouse workshops] 2 00:00:02,970 --> 00:00:04,660 [Dan Gorgone] Hey everyone, I'm Dan Gorgone, 3 00:00:04,660 --> 00:00:07,910 marketing and business teacher here at treehouse. 4 00:00:07,910 --> 00:00:10,150 And I'm joined by a special guest today 5 00:00:10,150 --> 00:00:12,540 for a careers workshop. 6 00:00:12,540 --> 00:00:16,000 Our special gust is C.C. Chapman, author of "Amazing Things Will Happen." 7 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,000 C.C., thanks for coming, man. 8 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,000 [C.C. Chapman] I'm psyched to be here. 9 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,520 [Dan Gorgone] What can you tell us about the book "Amazing Things Will Happen"— 10 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:27,560 and how it can help anyone out there, especially designers and developers, 11 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,130 with their careers? 12 00:00:29,130 --> 00:00:32,680 [C.C. Chapman] I wrote "Amazing Things Will Happen" to focus on the fact that 13 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,620 we're not given a guidebook on how to live our lives, 14 00:00:35,620 --> 00:00:37,000 especially on the job front. 15 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,670 I've been someone who hass kind of shaped my own career from day 1. 16 00:00:40,670 --> 00:00:42,030 And I believe anyone can do that. 17 00:00:42,030 --> 00:00:44,190 Once you know what you want to achieve, 18 00:00:44,190 --> 00:00:46,930 one you realize that this is the path I want to go down— 19 00:00:46,930 --> 00:00:48,670 this is my end result. 20 00:00:48,670 --> 00:00:50,510 I want to start a business or I want to freelance 21 00:00:50,510 --> 00:00:52,170 as a designer or a developer for a while. 22 00:00:52,170 --> 00:00:53,740 Once you know where you're trying to go 23 00:00:53,740 --> 00:00:55,140 then you can make it happen. 24 00:00:55,140 --> 00:00:58,230 And the book lays out step-by-step instructions 25 00:00:58,230 --> 00:01:02,390 on how you can go from figuring out exactly what it is you want to do 26 00:01:02,390 --> 00:01:04,099 then actually making that happen. 27 00:01:04,099 --> 00:01:06,730 Then once you're there—once you've reached some of those career goals, 28 00:01:06,730 --> 00:01:09,150 how to enjoy it and give back to the world 29 00:01:09,150 --> 00:01:12,160 and maintain a lifelong love of what you're doing. 30 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,600 [Dan Gorgone] Well I know there's plenty of our members out there 31 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,010 who are just getting started. 32 00:01:18,010 --> 00:01:20,800 They're just getting started learning about different kinds of technology 33 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,000 here at treehouse. 34 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,530 And some of them are more advanced—some of them have already started 35 00:01:24,530 --> 00:01:27,240 looking for freelance opportunities and consulting. 36 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,440 And some of them are actually involved with day-to day business— 37 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,770 be it their own or someone that they work with. 38 00:01:32,770 --> 00:01:37,020 Now how can they take some of the activites and lessons 39 00:01:37,020 --> 00:01:39,760 that are in this book and apply them 40 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,140 to their job, their career, their business? 41 00:01:42,140 --> 00:01:45,990 [C.C. Chapman] So I wanted to write a business book or a motivational book, 42 00:01:45,990 --> 00:01:48,700 depending on what you want to call it, that anybody could use. 43 00:01:48,700 --> 00:01:52,400 So the advice in it is very practical, very straightforward. 44 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,870 We walk through some exercises that will help them define 45 00:01:56,870 --> 00:01:58,680 what it is they really want to do for a career, 46 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,300 and how they can take it to the next level and maintain it going forward. 47 00:02:02,300 --> 00:02:05,790 It's very straightforward, it's not focused on any 1 industry. 48 00:02:05,790 --> 00:02:07,840 Because I didn't want to write a book that 49 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,199 was for only creatives or only executives. 50 00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:13,560 I want it so that whether you're a mom or a college student 51 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,000 or someone who is already running a successful business 52 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,000 but wants to take it to the next level— 53 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,400 that they could read it and get something out of it. 54 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,870 [Dan Gorgone] Gotcha. So 1 of the activites in the book, 55 00:02:21,870 --> 00:02:25,550 is called Simplify, Focus, and Attack. 56 00:02:25,550 --> 00:02:29,480 And it may sound self-explanatory at first, 57 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:35,110 but to be able to focus on what it is you want to do 58 00:02:35,110 --> 00:02:38,290 whether it's a career path, or whether it's a project 59 00:02:38,290 --> 00:02:40,040 or whether it's a business goal—it seems like 60 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,000 there's a lot that you can do with this activity. 61 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,000 What can we learn from this? 62 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,540 [C.C. Chapman] I'm 1 of those guys that always has a million things going on. 63 00:02:46,540 --> 00:02:49,390 So the Simplify, Focus, Attack approach has always been something that I 64 00:02:49,390 --> 00:02:51,690 try to do and try to live. 65 00:02:51,690 --> 00:02:55,840 What it means is that if you have a million things on your plate, 66 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,230 you're never going to get them all done, something is going to suffer. 67 00:02:58,230 --> 00:03:02,040 So you simplify, get it down to a couple. 68 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,000 Let's focus on the career side. 69 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,320 If you're looking to take your job to the next level 70 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,000 or even get a new job, right? 71 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,530 Simplify down to exactly what it is that you want. 72 00:03:11,530 --> 00:03:13,590 Do you want to keep doing the same thing that you're doing now? 73 00:03:13,590 --> 00:03:16,710 Is it to step up into a new realm of designing or developing? 74 00:03:16,710 --> 00:03:18,700 Maybe it's starting your own business? 75 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:22,800 Really simplify it down to a couple key objectives of things you want. 76 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,430 Because then you can focus on them. 77 00:03:24,430 --> 00:03:26,870 Because the shorter the list—I don't know about you're To Do list, 78 00:03:26,870 --> 00:03:29,070 my To Do list on any given day is way too long. 79 00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:31,000 So simplify it down to the ones you can focus on. 80 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,780 The last step is the most crucial, it's the one people skimp on. 81 00:03:33,780 --> 00:03:35,120 They actually don't attack. 82 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,650 They don't do the work, they don't make it happen. 83 00:03:37,650 --> 00:03:39,310 Making a list is easy. 84 00:03:39,310 --> 00:03:42,310 Puttingi n the time to make those things happen—not so easy. 85 00:03:42,310 --> 00:03:44,700 So that's why you simplify it down, you focus on what you're trying to do, 86 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:46,120 then you attack and get it done. 87 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:52,830 [Dan Gorgone] Now part of that focus means taking a good, hard, honest look 88 00:03:52,830 --> 00:03:56,890 at personal needs and personal obligations. 89 00:03:56,890 --> 00:03:59,780 And no matter what it is that you want to do, 90 00:03:59,780 --> 00:04:01,690 there's always things that are getting in the way— 91 00:04:01,690 --> 00:04:06,100 whether it's short term things like "I've got to take my kids to soccer practice," 92 00:04:06,100 --> 00:04:10,520 or longer term concerns like financial. 93 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,430 Things like, "I have to pay back student loans," 94 00:04:12,430 --> 00:04:15,620 or how am I supposed to do this if I've got this in the way? 95 00:04:15,620 --> 00:04:20,660 How can you take your Simplify, Focus, and Attack approach 96 00:04:20,660 --> 00:04:24,830 and be able to put those concerns, needs, and obligations 97 00:04:24,830 --> 00:04:27,240 in the right context to move forward? 98 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,550 [C.C. Chapman] So one of the episodes I talk about stepping through 99 00:04:30,550 --> 00:04:33,220 and figuring out what it is in your life that you really have to take care of. 100 00:04:33,220 --> 00:04:36,670 Me having 2 kids and a wife and mortgage— 101 00:04:36,670 --> 00:04:39,550 I've got a lot more responsibilities than maybe a college student. 102 00:04:39,550 --> 00:04:42,440 But they've got students loans, they've got rent, they've got other things. 103 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,730 Let's face it, I hate these people that give advice and just say, 104 00:04:45,730 --> 00:04:47,840 "Just jump off the cliff, jump into whatever you want to do." 105 00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:49,680 That's dangerous and stupid, 106 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,240 because that might work out in the long run, 107 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,020 but you could also be throwing yourself to the sharks. 108 00:04:54,020 --> 00:04:56,290 So really take an honest look. 109 00:04:56,290 --> 00:04:59,850 Write down all the things you have to take care of. 110 00:04:59,850 --> 00:05:02,420 Get really specific: Here's my budget I have to cover 111 00:05:02,420 --> 00:05:04,010 on a month-to-month basis. 112 00:05:04,010 --> 00:05:06,000 Because you don't want to end up on the street. 113 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,000 But then again, maybe 1 of the options is 114 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,000 get roommates, there's always alternatives. 115 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,000 But if you don't actually take the time to look at those things and 116 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,120 write them out and really focus on them, 117 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,000 You're never going to know, you're going to see, 118 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,110 "Oh, maybe you can do it,"it's never going to be the right time. 119 00:05:18,110 --> 00:05:20,220 It's like having kids, it's never the right time. 120 00:05:20,220 --> 00:05:22,000 You never have enough money in time. 121 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,130 But you'll make time for the things you believe in. 122 00:05:24,130 --> 00:05:26,940 [Dan Gorgone] So from a project point of view, 123 00:05:26,940 --> 00:05:29,440 I think we can also take Simplify, Focus, and Attack 124 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,520 and apply it towards projects as well. 125 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:33,960 Sort of a project management type of methodology. 126 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:39,250 Let's say for example that the designers and developers out there 127 00:05:39,250 --> 00:05:42,430 this is probably a common issue that comes up is 128 00:05:42,430 --> 00:05:44,220 you have someone come to you 129 00:05:44,220 --> 00:05:49,450 with aproject that they want built, a website, say a portfolio project, for example. 130 00:05:49,450 --> 00:05:52,450 How can we take Simplify, Focus, and Attack 131 00:05:52,450 --> 00:05:55,070 and apply it to a project like this? 132 00:05:55,070 --> 00:05:57,450 What's a good way that we can apply this methodology? 133 00:05:57,450 --> 00:06:00,230 [C.C. Chapman] As you're sitting there talking to your clients, 134 00:06:00,230 --> 00:06:02,660 clients want everything right—they want it all. 135 00:06:02,660 --> 00:06:04,950 And they can't pay for it all. 136 00:06:04,950 --> 00:06:07,020 Sitting down with them and actually saying, 137 00:06:07,020 --> 00:06:09,270 "What are the top 5 things? Let's simplify it." 138 00:06:09,270 --> 00:06:12,310 "Let's narrow down to the 5 things you must have in this site." 139 00:06:12,310 --> 00:06:15,420 What I like to do is talk about the nice to have things? 140 00:06:15,420 --> 00:06:17,000 You know, that second tier. 141 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,190 Because then you can focus on the things that really matter. 142 00:06:19,190 --> 00:06:21,030 And it focuses them. 143 00:06:21,030 --> 00:06:23,560 It's 1 of those exercises that it doesn't matter what 144 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:25,210 sort of project you're working on with a client. 145 00:06:25,210 --> 00:06:29,400 If you get them to actually talk about what it is that they really, really need— 146 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,000 it will let them focus. 147 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,720 Then it allows you to attack the things that they want the most. 148 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,680 [Dan Gorgone] So in terms of applying a degree 149 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,100 of focus to a career— 150 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:44,210 one of those things that can really help put a lot of things in focus 151 00:06:44,210 --> 00:06:46,210 is self-assessment, right? 152 00:06:46,210 --> 00:06:50,060 Now self-assessment is so important, 153 00:06:50,060 --> 00:06:52,540 it's not something that you just do at the beginning 154 00:06:52,540 --> 00:06:57,220 of a career like when you're going into high school and— 155 00:06:57,220 --> 00:06:59,860 I know plenty of people have probably taken these self-assessment tests 156 00:06:59,860 --> 00:07:03,030 in high school or maybe at some point in college, 157 00:07:03,030 --> 00:07:06,380 but self-assessment is important throughout your career, isn't it? 158 00:07:06,380 --> 00:07:09,360 [C.C. Chapman] Without a doubt, if you're not looking at where you are 159 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,210 and what you're doing on a regular basis, 160 00:07:11,210 --> 00:07:14,090 You're never going ot be happy and you're never going to get anywhere. 161 00:07:14,090 --> 00:07:18,590 A lot of companies will do it, if you're working for somebody 162 00:07:18,590 --> 00:07:21,490 it's the year end review, that's when someone looks at you and judges you. 163 00:07:21,490 --> 00:07:24,970 But honestly, don't wait for other people to assess your career. 164 00:07:24,970 --> 00:07:27,880 Look at it yourself, figure out, "Am I on the right track?" 165 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,100 "Am I getting where I need? Should I take more classes 166 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:34,330 "to learn a new language? Should I take more here on treehouse 167 00:07:34,330 --> 00:07:36,470 "to take my skills to a new level?" 168 00:07:36,470 --> 00:07:38,470 The more you do that self assessment and don't just wait— 169 00:07:38,470 --> 00:07:40,000 Don't do it on a calendar. 170 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,350 Everybody does it in December for the new year. 171 00:07:42,350 --> 00:07:46,190 Figure out what works for you and be looking at it on a constant basis. 172 00:07:46,190 --> 00:07:48,730 [Dan Gorgone] One of the activities in "Amazing Things Will Happen" 173 00:07:48,730 --> 00:07:52,830 is the 3 word exercise. 174 00:07:52,830 --> 00:07:55,930 I know that you talked about this exercise sort of being 175 00:07:55,930 --> 00:07:58,770 inspired by the New Years resolutions. 176 00:07:58,770 --> 00:08:00,150 that you saw online. 177 00:08:00,150 --> 00:08:02,250 Can you explain how that activity sort of came about? 178 00:08:02,250 --> 00:08:06,170 [C.C. Chapman] So the 3 word exercise is something 179 00:08:06,170 --> 00:08:08,000 that I learned from another writer. 180 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,210 And what he always did instead of New Year's resolutions— 181 00:08:11,210 --> 00:08:13,000 which I'm not a fan of either— 182 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:17,250 he would figure out 3 words for the year, 3 themes to focus on. 183 00:08:17,250 --> 00:08:19,030 And what the exercise is 184 00:08:19,030 --> 00:08:23,080 really simply, you lay out all the words, you kind of do a brainstorm— 185 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,230 a mind map of all the terms you're focusing on 186 00:08:26,230 --> 00:08:28,690 that you want to achieve in the new year. 187 00:08:28,690 --> 00:08:30,120 Then you start looking for themes. 188 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,640 You narrow it down, simplify it, you focus on it. 189 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,679 Then you get down to 3 words that you're going to focus on for the year. 190 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,039 And you attack, you make it happen. 191 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:41,450 [Dan Gorgone] That seems like something that would be especially 192 00:08:41,450 --> 00:08:46,750 helpful for personal philosophy and personal and professional direction. 193 00:08:46,750 --> 00:08:52,310 I bet you could even apply it towards the types of projects, the types of clients 194 00:08:52,310 --> 00:08:54,250 that you want to seek out. 195 00:08:54,250 --> 00:08:56,140 When it comes to careers 196 00:08:56,140 --> 00:08:58,880 how can we take the 3 word exercise 197 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,790 and apply it towards the career search? 198 00:09:01,790 --> 00:09:06,310 Sort of directing our career path, so to speak. 199 00:09:06,310 --> 00:09:08,350 [C.C. Chapman] Sure, so let's step through the exercise 200 00:09:08,350 --> 00:09:10,000 as if we were looking for a new job, 201 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,620 as a designer or developer looking for a new job. 202 00:09:12,620 --> 00:09:16,380 One of the things where we would start is of course you want to make more money, 203 00:09:16,380 --> 00:09:19,030 you want more flexible hours, you want to work shift, 204 00:09:19,030 --> 00:09:21,420 all those things—those are things we all want. 205 00:09:21,420 --> 00:09:24,000 Those are not the things to focus on, because we know we need those. 206 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,900 So what you would do first is you would actually 207 00:09:25,900 --> 00:09:28,630 write down all the things that you really want out of this new job. 208 00:09:28,630 --> 00:09:31,740 Maybe it's more challenging, maybe it's more responsibility. 209 00:09:31,740 --> 00:09:33,360 You want to start managing people. 210 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:35,500 You want to learn a new programming language. 211 00:09:35,500 --> 00:09:37,640 You want to expand your portfolio. 212 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:41,350 Write all those things down and do not be held back. 213 00:09:41,350 --> 00:09:44,550 Just write them down, take time, take a notebook, a whiteboard, whatever it is. 214 00:09:44,550 --> 00:09:46,270 Write everything that comes down. 215 00:09:46,270 --> 00:09:48,970 Take a week, take some time to really focus on it, 216 00:09:48,970 --> 00:09:51,450 because this is your master list you're going to work from. 217 00:09:51,450 --> 00:09:54,240 Once you've got those, what you should start doing 218 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,090 is actually, on a whiteboard what I do is grab different colored markers 219 00:09:58,090 --> 00:10:00,000 and start circling if there's any themes. 220 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,390 LIke, "Oh, this focuses on responsibilities I want." 221 00:10:03,390 --> 00:10:06,820 And over here is maybe the locations, maybe I want to move. 222 00:10:06,820 --> 00:10:08,970 I want to uproot my family and do something new. 223 00:10:08,970 --> 00:10:10,150 [Dab Gorgone] Or creativity? 224 00:10:10,150 --> 00:10:12,280 [C.C. Chapman] Or creativity—there's so many different things. 225 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,600 It's up to you to figure out if there are any themes 226 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,230 that are grouping them together. 227 00:10:16,230 --> 00:10:18,190 The next step is to actually take it and start 228 00:10:18,190 --> 00:10:20,160 chopping them down, because the goal is 229 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,110 to get down to 3 phrases or words. 230 00:10:23,110 --> 00:10:25,180 In this case when we're doing acareer search, maybe it won't be 231 00:10:25,180 --> 00:10:27,200 indivisual words, maybe it will be phrases. 232 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,990 Like "Managerial Responsibility" or "Stronger Creativity." 233 00:10:30,990 --> 00:10:33,610 You want to narrow it down so that way at the end of it, 234 00:10:33,610 --> 00:10:37,820 what you're hoping for is that you've got these 3 really important things 235 00:10:37,820 --> 00:10:39,420 for what you want out of the next job. 236 00:10:39,420 --> 00:10:42,000 And where that becomes important is when you start interviewing with people. 237 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,160 If you're not asking questions in an interview, 238 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,000 you're not going to get the job. 239 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,000 That's 1 of the rules of interviewing for jobs. 240 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,670 When you've got these 3 things that you know these are the really important things. 241 00:10:51,670 --> 00:10:54,350 You can sit down and ask those specifically, 242 00:10:54,350 --> 00:10:56,320 say, "Hey, is there a chance for me to do this here?" 243 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,520 Because that's going to show that you've focused on what you really wanted. 244 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,730 This isn't just another job, this is actually something you want. 245 00:11:02,730 --> 00:11:04,920 And it sets you up for that career path. 246 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,030 And if you go in and you've taken the time to go through this exercise, 247 00:11:08,030 --> 00:11:12,290 And you go in and you get "no's" on those 3 things, 248 00:11:12,290 --> 00:11:14,110 that's not the right job for you. 249 00:11:14,110 --> 00:11:16,250 Too many people jump based on the salary, 250 00:11:16,250 --> 00:11:19,400 or based on something that shortk-term is great. 251 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:23,100 But long-term eventually you're not going to get what you need out of it 252 00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:25,240 and you'll look back at these words again. 253 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,940 [Dan Gorgone] So I bet you could take these 3 words that you 254 00:11:27,940 --> 00:11:29,910 come up with through the activity, 255 00:11:29,910 --> 00:11:32,940 and if you've really been honest with yourself and you really focus 256 00:11:32,940 --> 00:11:34,470 on what it is that you want, 257 00:11:34,470 --> 00:11:37,170 You could apply it not just towards the interviews 258 00:11:37,170 --> 00:11:40,090 but take it a step back, you can look at the companies. 259 00:11:40,090 --> 00:11:42,860 You want to do research anyway 260 00:11:42,860 --> 00:11:46,370 before you go out and even submit a cover letter or a resume, 261 00:11:46,370 --> 00:11:49,850 but when you're looking at job opportunities and you see what's out there— 262 00:11:49,850 --> 00:11:53,810 This is almost like doing personal keyword research on yourself 263 00:11:53,810 --> 00:11:55,730 on what you want, right? 264 00:11:55,730 --> 00:11:57,180 [C.C. Chapman] Yeah, and you should be investigating companies. 265 00:11:57,180 --> 00:11:59,740 If you're not looking at the companies, if you're not going out 266 00:11:59,740 --> 00:12:04,220 to both their websites, their social media profiles, their LinkedIn company pages, 267 00:12:04,220 --> 00:12:06,000 which now companies have, 268 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,050 if you're not taking time to actually research the companies, 269 00:12:08,050 --> 00:12:10,380 you're going to find out that the culture doesn't mix. 270 00:12:10,380 --> 00:12:13,920 Granted you can only find out so much before you're actually there onsite. 271 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,250 But when you know what you want, 272 00:12:16,250 --> 00:12:18,990 it makes researching these companies a lot better. 273 00:12:18,990 --> 00:12:20,890 You have to get beyond the name. 274 00:12:20,890 --> 00:12:22,860 "Oh, that's a great company, that sounds awesome." 275 00:12:22,860 --> 00:12:24,740 It may not be a great fit for you. 276 00:12:24,740 --> 00:12:29,010 [Dan Gorgone] So aside from the activities that we just talked about, 277 00:12:29,010 --> 00:12:32,580 "Amazing Things Will Happen" has all kinds of different lessons. 278 00:12:32,580 --> 00:12:37,270 And different things that you've collected along your own personal journey 279 00:12:37,270 --> 00:12:39,010 and from many defferent people. 280 00:12:39,010 --> 00:12:41,470 What are some of the other things that people can learn from the book 281 00:12:41,470 --> 00:12:45,620 that can have a real benefit ont heir career path? 282 00:12:45,620 --> 00:12:48,400 [C.C. Chapman] Well, there's a lot of things. 283 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,990 One of the chapters is called "Rules are like Rubberbands." 284 00:12:50,990 --> 00:12:53,190 The fact that sometimes there are rules that are 285 00:12:53,190 --> 00:12:55,970 just put in place that no one's ever changed for any reason. 286 00:12:55,970 --> 00:12:59,130 And figuring out a way to bend them without breaking them. 287 00:12:59,130 --> 00:13:01,860 It gets you ahead in the world a little bit. 288 00:13:01,860 --> 00:13:04,490 I also talk about something that I have to give credit to Derrick Sivers, 289 00:13:04,490 --> 00:13:07,010 a great entrepreneur and musician, 290 00:13:07,010 --> 00:13:09,150 he does what he calls the "Hell Yeah" test. 291 00:13:09,150 --> 00:13:13,580 Where if you're thinking about should I take this freelance gig 292 00:13:13,580 --> 00:13:15,010 or should I take this job— 293 00:13:15,010 --> 00:13:17,440 You kind of feel like maybe, 294 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,580 he says if you can't say, "Hell yeah, I want to take that." 295 00:13:20,580 --> 00:13:22,800 Then maybe you shouldn't take it. 296 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,210 That's tough when you're looking for a paycheck, 297 00:13:25,210 --> 00:13:27,000 or you've got other committments. 298 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,250 But if you get to a point in your career, and you will have those decisions 299 00:13:29,250 --> 00:13:32,790 where it's not a life or death decision, it's just you need to make a call, 300 00:13:32,790 --> 00:13:35,620 I think that test is something more people need to do. 301 00:13:35,620 --> 00:13:38,420 Because, trust me, if you pass on that opportunity 302 00:13:38,420 --> 00:13:40,100 that you're not that excited about, 303 00:13:40,100 --> 00:13:42,000 there's probably another opportunity coming along 304 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,010 And there's nothing worse than saying "yes" to something you're not excited about 305 00:13:45,010 --> 00:13:48,120 and then that excitin 1 comes, and you have to pass on it 306 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,000 because you're committed to the other one. 307 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:53,070 Pick your battles, do something you love. 308 00:13:53,070 --> 00:13:54,940 [Dan Gorgone] It's also difficult to get your energy up 309 00:13:54,940 --> 00:13:59,620 for projects that are kind of "meh." 310 00:13:59,620 --> 00:14:03,200 It's hard regardless of whether the money is there or not. 311 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,060 [C.C. Chapman] And we all have to take them from time to time. 312 00:14:06,060 --> 00:14:09,700 Don't get me wrong, if it was all unicorns and rainbows 313 00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:11,220 life would be a lot better, but it's not. 314 00:14:11,220 --> 00:14:14,020 Sometimes you have to take the project and you have to do it. 315 00:14:14,020 --> 00:14:17,180 And you slug through, but when you get to that point where 316 00:14:17,180 --> 00:14:20,260 you have the opportunity to have a little bit more control and a little bit more decision, 317 00:14:20,260 --> 00:14:22,870 if you're doing work that you actually love 318 00:14:22,870 --> 00:14:24,600 it's a lot easier. 319 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,380 [Dan Gorgone] So final words of advice. 320 00:14:26,380 --> 00:14:30,280 Advice for the first-timers out there. 321 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,530 Or if you could go back in time and tell yourself 322 00:14:32,530 --> 00:14:35,100 you're going to start your career path. 323 00:14:35,100 --> 00:14:38,270 Here's eomthing that you need to consider 324 00:14:38,270 --> 00:14:42,350 that's going to point you in the right direction. 325 00:14:42,350 --> 00:14:44,000 What would you tell yourself? 326 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,000 [C.C. Chapman] Wow, if I was to go back and tell me? 327 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,410 I talk to a lot of college students. 328 00:14:48,410 --> 00:14:50,410 I do a lot of speaking to students. 329 00:14:50,410 --> 00:14:54,510 What I always tell them is—especially right out of college 330 00:14:54,510 --> 00:14:56,960 everybody jumps at that first job that sounds great, 331 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:01,420 Take the time, that's the time you usually don't have 332 00:15:01,420 --> 00:15:03,920 as many committments as you're going to have later in life. 333 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,650 Take the time, the extra couple of weeks, 334 00:15:06,650 --> 00:15:09,810 the extra couple of months to get that first job to be right. 335 00:15:09,810 --> 00:15:12,500 But also realize that no matter what you're first job is, 336 00:15:12,500 --> 00:15:14,100 you're not going to be there forever. 337 00:15:14,100 --> 00:15:16,000 It's not like the old days. 338 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,270 I thought the company I started working for right out of college— 339 00:15:18,270 --> 00:15:21,440 I thought I was going to be there 10 years., I ended up being there 4. 340 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,700 It's not going to happen. 341 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:26,120 So take the time to find something that you really like. 342 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:27,740 And realize what it is you like, just because 343 00:15:27,740 --> 00:15:31,860 your parents, just because your teachers, or society tells you 344 00:15:31,860 --> 00:15:33,540 you should be going down this path. 345 00:15:33,540 --> 00:15:36,540 If that's not the path you want to be on, 346 00:15:36,540 --> 00:15:39,550 you're eventually going to get discouraged and leave. 347 00:15:39,550 --> 00:15:42,630 It's a lot easier to start down the path in the beginning. 348 00:15:42,630 --> 00:15:45,600 So don't be scared—it is scary, it's a lot of hard work, 349 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,340 but do it, just do it. 350 00:15:47,340 --> 00:15:49,000 Nike had it right, just do it. 351 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,510 [Dan Gorgone] So where can people find this book 352 00:15:51,510 --> 00:15:54,510 and where can people find mor information about you? 353 00:15:54,510 --> 00:15:57,250 [C.C. Chapman] Sure, so I'm easy, I'm all over the web. 354 00:15:57,250 --> 00:16:00,980 cc-chapman.com is my site where you can find everything I do. 355 00:16:00,980 --> 00:16:04,450 "Amazing Things Will Happen" is available everywhere books, e-books, 356 00:16:04,450 --> 00:16:06,120 and audio books are sold. 357 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,140 Go down to your local bookstore and buy it. 358 00:16:09,140 --> 00:16:11,150 Not the big chain, support indie bookstores. 359 00:16:11,150 --> 00:16:13,060 That's a pet peeve of mine, support them. 360 00:16:13,060 --> 00:16:15,190 They need the business. 361 00:16:15,190 --> 00:16:17,000 And if you read it, let me know, I'd love to know what you think. 362 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,000 [Dan Gorgone] Cool, thanks for coming C.C. 363 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:22,550 C.C. Chapman, I'm Dan Gorgone, thanks for watching this workshop. 364 00:16:22,550 --> 00:16:24,510 We'll see you next time. 365 00:16:24,510 --> 00:16:26,530 [treehouse workshops]